Edson Buddle Discusses His Late Call to MNT Camp

MNTOct 5, 2011

CHICAGO (Oct. 5, 2011) — Edson Buddle did not find out he would be joining the Men’s National Team in Miami until the morning after ussoccer.com announced he would be replacing Landon Donovan in the squad. But as an alternate, the news did not totally surprise the forward. Buddle arrived in Ft. Lauderdale yesterday from Germany, and ussoccer.com caught up with him ahead of Saturday’s match against Honduras.

ussoccer.com: You’ve scored five goals in 10 games for FC Ingolstadt so far this season. What’s been the difference for you this year from last? Edson Buddle: “The biggest difference is that I know what to expect now. Trainings are hard every day. Sometimes you might have thought it’s going to be a lighter day because you have a game or something else coming up, but they still train hard. I’ve gotten used to the routine of training and the environment.”

ussoccer.com: Scoring breeds confidence in strikers. Is that the same for you? EB: “I’m starting to feel more confident. Scoring gives my teammates more confidence in me, which means you get the ball more, you get more playing time, and it builds. I’m also feeling more confident fitness-wise. I hadn’t played 90 minutes in a while before last weekend.”

ussoccer.com: You had played the afternoon the roster change was being made. How did you find out? EB: “I didn’t find out until the next morning when I saw I had two phone calls and a text message. The number was from the Chicago area code, so I figured it was the national team calling. I was an alternate on the roster, so I wasn’t completely surprised. Part of the job is being ready when you’re called, so that’s how I took it.”

ussoccer.com: After playing against Mexico, you weren’t called in for the September games. Is there extra motivation this time around? EB: “I’m feeling motivated. I walked away from the Mexico game feeling like I had put everything into it, and I know my work was appreciated. Not being called in has happened before. I know it wasn’t anything personal. The following weekend I scored a goal, and Jurgen sent me a text saying congratulations and to keep going. I took that as motivation. Now I’m getting another chance. It’s up to me to perform.”